It’s already known that the Blue Jays pulled right-hander Marco Estrada back from waivers after he was claimed (reportedly by the Yankees) earlier this month, and FanRag’s Jon Heyman reports that the Jays also pulled left-hander J.A. Happ back off revocable trade waivers at some point in August. As such, he’s ineligible to be traded before tomorrow night’s deadline for postseason eligibility. Happ, 35 in October, is in the second season of a three-year, $36MM contract and is owed the balance of a $13MM salary (about $2.2MM) plus another $13MM in 2018. Toronto’s decision to pull him back is consistent with their reluctance to listen on other assets controlled beyond ’17 (e.g. Josh Donaldson). By all accounts, the Blue Jays seem intent on fielding a contending club in 2018, and Happ is likely viewed as an important part of that. He’ll join young right-handers Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman in next year’s rotation, though the Toronto front office will likely have some work to do in the offseason.
A bit more out of the game’s Eastern divisions…
- Braves righty R.A. Dickey sat down with Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to discuss the team’s young core of pitchers as well as his own future. Dickey, 42, spoke with Burns about the lessons that he’s tried to teach younger arms like Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb and others, as well as the influence of other veterans like Freddie Freeman and Brandon Phillips. Asked about his own future in light of a recent run of strong starts, Dickey tells Burns that there’s “no doubt in his mind” that he’s physically capable of continuing his career, but the decision will be made collectively with his wife and four children following the 2017 season. The Q&A is well worth a full read-through — especially for Braves fans, of course.
- The Mets provided a series of health updates on their many injured players once again today (h/t: James Wagner of the New York Times, on Twitter). Right-hander Matt Harvey tossed a bullpen session today and is on track to make a return to the big league mound this Saturday against the Astros. Fellow righty Noah Syndergaard will set out on a minor league rehab assignment that same day, tossing an inning for the Mets’ Gulf Coast League affiliate. Meanwhile, Michael Conforto has received a second opinion on his shoulder, but there’s no update of a diagnosis or treatment plan. Infielders David Wright and T.J. Rivera are set for further exams in New York.
- Red Sox manager John Farrell said in an appearance on WEEI’s Dale, Holley & Keefe that the team cannot rule out the possibility of David Price returning as a reliever this season (via WEEI’s Ryan Hannable). Farrell acknowledged that the team’s decision-makers are cognizant of the limited time Price has to build his strength back up after being on the disabled list with an elbow injury since late July. Price threw off a mound today but was limited to just fastballs, per Farrell. “When he is able to get back to game speed or full speed and then see what the best role and the most realistic role is for him and how do we make sure we do what is right by David and not over stressing the number of pitches in an outing,” said the manager.
- Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff exited today’s start with a nerve issue in his right hand, writes MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. Manager Pete Mackanin suggested that the injury came “out of the blue,” as Eickhoff had not given any prior indication of discomfort. As Zolecki points out, though, Eickhoff’s average fastball velocity in 2015-16 was 91.5 mph, but he averaged just 89.4 mph in his first five August starts and only 88 mph on Wednesday.
Dickey has been alright. I’d like to see him keep going
Dickey is solid. He’s a good vet presence for the young guys and can show them how to be a major leaguer. Not sure what a knuckleballer can give as far as pitching advice but he’s been around the game a real long time.
Dickey made it to the league in ’01 not as a knuckleballer, just guy with a high 80s fastball. I think he threw a knuckleball of some form, but if you make it 4 years in the show(became a knuckleball guy in ’05) throwing in the 87-89 range, you can probably teach them a lot. Btw I had to look this up because it was a good question, wasn’t trying to call you out.
Would someone enlighten me on why the BlueJays didn’t trade Estrada? Or why didn’t they trade Happ either? There is only downside next year as they age for both these guys. The Jays are going nowhere this year and nowhere next year barring major pitching staff upgrades which Mr Shapiro and Mr Atkins don’t seem willing to do. #Scoutseyes.
Agreed on all points. However, I see a bigger problem, that being that it seems no one can hit a ball.
Being a Jays fan, this has actually become a difficult time to watch.
Don’t want to get into it, but there are a great deal of problems to fix !!!!
I may be way off but….trade Pillar, Estrada, maybe even Donaldson…..get rid of Tulo( but how)….done with Monterro, Barney.
Dunno what to say….
I do like Anderson…..and I believe we have something in Lopez with the right coaches ?
Geeeez
Yeah, Tulo needs another position in order to keep him healthy, but he is on the record saying won’t do it, so the decline will continue for him. Pillar will get better, Martin is awesome but age is catching up quickly. Montero, Maile, Barney, Carrera, Pearce are spare parts. Donaldson is elite. Morales is very good. Bautista probably has one more year like this one then he’s done. Smoak is well, nevermind – just trade him now at his peak. Travis is a hurtin’ unit, can’t lead off and can’t stay on the field. As soon as he gets healthy [again] trade him to a grass field team. Time to totally rebuild this team, this slow death is excruiating for us passionate fans who can see correctly that this team is not a few pickups or signings away from anything like the playoffs.
In what world is Kendrys Morales very good? He is a declining hitter who clogs the bases up. And a zero on defense because you can’t play him anywhere. He clogs the DH hole and the bases for 22 homeruns and a 250/300/440 slash line.
Morales needs to be traded just to clear his salary. I don’t care if nothing of value comes back
I’d be surprised if you could dump 2 and 22 for a DH only player that doesn’t hit as well as he used to. Kinda like the Orioles and Mark Trumbo, nobody is in the market for that kind of player on that kind of salary.
A 260 hitter is Elite, Come on man !
dudes overrated had one really good year , and hits in a Ban Box
Are you ok? Donaldson has had 5 straight good to elite years. Batting average is not a stat that shows if you’re good year. And come on man, he was good in O.Co Colliseum too. Baseball reference is your friend
Donaldson is Elite except for injuries. All teams would take this guy. When healthy he can carry a team. Mr MVP.
3 back at the time and he was hot
And happ because they want to compete next year.
And if they don’t, Happ should have some value at the deadline. (Or in the offseason if they want to move on.)
Jays roster is full of good players. Watch them make a couple of decent additions and make the playoffs next year, sad how “what have you done for me lately” people are on here.
Not really. They have clear holes and an old roster. What and how many games are you going to get out of Tulo? Who is their RF next year? How bout left? Pearce? Russ Mart isn’t getting any younger behind the plate. They have a lot of those older guys who could use some days DH’ing but that’s clogged up by a guy who isn’t very good anymore in Morales.. What kind of pitcher is Aaron Sanchez? The 15 game winning stud or not, it’s up in the air. The bullpen is bad except for Osuna. It’s not hard to see why they’re being doubted.
The bullpen isn’t bad. Tepera and Leone have been nails all year. Barnes has to but has been overworked lately. The front end of it I guess has been bad, but the back has been a bright spot this year
You’re right. Leone has been lights out. Tepera has been solid but there is no depth. It’s not a particularly hard fix especially since you have an elite closer on the back end. Combo’d with the other issues it’s more of a problem though. And if you comp it to the other pens in the division, you get a little more disappointed.
Jays have many serviceable players plugging holes like Ezekiel Carrera, Rob Refsnyder, Darwin Barney, Steve Pearce, etc. This team has very few position players who were home grown, and you don’t hear about too many players who are knocking on the door. Should be interesting to see the young talent added when rosters expand.
Refsnyder is terrible, needs to be released.
I agree Refsynder appears to be an elite AAA player, lol. He might find a way to stick in the maors at some point. He is a left fielder who can’t hit at the MLB level. His second base defense is questionable.
They have no depth at all to replace the innings for the rest of the year, and would need another starter for Happ next year.
That’s my point. Get whatever they can for Happ ebfore he is useless and old. They are winning nothing next year with or without Happ so since there is going to be another year or three years more of futuility, trade Happ now, sign some cast offs to fill in innings and let the minor leaguers develop.
The Jays have decided not to tick-off any of their fair weather local Jays fans by feigning competitiveness. The Jays are facing two young squads in Boston and NY, teams whose talented young cores will be that much better seasoned in 2018. The Jays are again in the hunt for mediocrity – poor plan. The nformed Jays fans amongst us deserve better.
If I had to guess, I’d have to think they didn’t want to trade him within the division.
I don’t understand why the Jays have been so stubborn and arrogant all season. Their team is full of players on the decline, and their season was over a while ago, yet they insist on holding onto everyone and making a run?
Their old GM wiped out the farm and didn’t get much out of it, and they still have the same mindset, and it seems like the chickens are coming to roost now.
Didn’t get much out of it except get to the playoffs for the first time in how many years?!?
Idk maybe they just don’t have the loser mentality. It doesn’t have to be the Yankees or Red Sox against the Cubs or Dodgers. There’s literally teams like the Rangers who traded their ace when they could legitimately make the playoffs. I don’t believe the wild card team has absolutely no chance at making a run either. They weren’t confident enough to potentially go into the playoffs with Darvish and Hamels. To a lesser degree the Angels dealt a useful reliever and the Twins dealt their closer and absorbed Jaime Garcia’s salary for a prospect. I’m not even saying that’s a bad move for those teams but at the end of the day, somebody has to be playing for October. Jays could give in and quit and start rebuilding but how many other teams are doing that to varying degrees right now? I’m not even saying that’s the route I personally think the Jays should go but it seems like there’s a lot more teams willing to take a prospect even if it hurts a potential playoff chance. The favorites don’t always win.
Not going to knock a team for trying. Not every team in baseball can do a tear down and get the kind of guys the chisox/yankees got. It takes time and it’s hard to give up hope, especially when you don’t win a WS with your core. I hate the Jays but they put a solid baseball team on the field for awhile now. If they want one more crack, let it ride. Orioles are in a very similar situation at the moment. Unlikely for either one, but you can’t blame them.
They need another year for their farm to mature, after next season I think you’ll see things start to change a bit.
Maybe 2-3 more years before they can compete. Vlad junior won’t be ready for that long. He’ll be a star. Bishette jr only going to be a average major leaguer. They need many more elite prospects that are near ready which they do not have at the moment, hence my repeated requests for trading anyone with a pulse…
I know toronto’s not very big on the free agent market, but I think JD Martinez or Justin Upton makes perfect sense for them. You got one hole in the outfield guarenteed, and can have Pearce super utility. It’s probably just wishful thinking, but there’s lots of money coming off the books this offseason, and an obvious fit/need
Justin Upton would be a nice add.
Blue Jays are in no position to compete next year. They need a serious rebuild, and step one, get younger. Why are they holding on to old players when they are miles away from being good.
Agree ! Old and overpaid. ,
Need Complete Rebuild , sell or cast adrift all Non performing Players !
If their starting pitching rebounds, and a healthy Donaldson for a full year I’ll take my chances. With the wild card you only need to be around .500 to be in the race all year.
The Jays were in the same position as every other seller this summer. Too many sellers, and not enough buyers. In this copy cat sport, too many GMs are incapable of original thought. They all want to copy what Houston, Chicago and KC did. The problem is that supply and demand says that will only work when there are few sellers and demand is high. Right now, there are virtually no races in the NL so there are fewer buyers. With the change in qualifying offer compensation, from a first round pick, to a third or fourth pick, moving a pending FA no longer brings back the same value. Teams no longer have to offer more than first round pick value. The offers start lower.
The Jays had their Pitchers claimed, which meant they either had to take whatever the claiming team offered, or wait til the off season. Considering the choices, waiting seems like the better choice.
Good points all-around…Well said.
Agreed, this front office doesn’t make moves for the sake of making moves. Cheer for Seattle if you want that! Lol
I agree…I still have no idea what Seattle was thinking bailing STL out of that Mike Leake contract! I was really hoping the Cardinals would be stuck with that mistake!
I would have been totally selling at the deadline. Estrada, Bautista, anyone peice that could fetch a decent prospect. Tehre were 15 offers for jays players. I think the Jays Mgmt incorrectly measured this team as competative and decided not to rebuild. I agree that waiting until the offseason is a better idea to rebuild that give away waiver claim players for nothing.
Maybe they could trade Refsnyder and Morales for Rhys Hoskins
Jays are forced to keep Tulo so it’s a moot point but I believe they should keep him regardless. Ditch Morales for anything at all and either use an in house option or go out and acquire someone who can play a good SS to spell Tulo off way more often. That DH position should be used to give guys like Tulo and JD days off from the start of the season and not wasted on a bat only player unless they can produce like a David Ortiz or something of that elite offensive standing.
Dickey was quoted saying, “I may be 42, but that’s only 29 in Knuckelball years.”
Braves should trade with Rays////////////////Pache,Demeritte,Wisler,Fried,Weigel and R.sanchez FOR Archer and Jesus Sanchez.
What a waste Price is…. he may have surgery, he’ll miss a season and may never be the same….